So my T50 (in my GTS) is having some issues with 2nd gear and that got me thinking about gearbox conversions (plus the gearing sucks so there's that too). So far, I came up with the W58 for potential swap options. If I do go this route, I'll probably look to SQ Engineering for all the hardware I just have a few questions about the swap:1. How is the gear ratio compared to the T50's?

2. Is there a weight penalty by switching to a W58?

3. What is the overall experience compared to a T50?

I've researched this before so I'm sorry if these questions have been asked before but I did do research beforehand. Thanks for reading!

IndiaDorifto7 wrote:So my T50 (in my GTS) is having some issues with 2nd gear and that got me thinking about gearbox conversions (plus the gearing sucks so there's that too). So far, I came up with the W58 for potential swap options. If I do go this route, I'll probably look to SQ Engineering for all the hardware I just have a few questions about the swap:1. How is the gear ratio compared to the T50's?

2. Is there a weight penalty by switching to a W58?

3. What is the overall experience compared to a T50?

I've researched this before so I'm sorry if these questions have been asked before but I did do research beforehand. Thanks for reading!

I've driven both, the w58 + 4agze in my 74 celica which had front and rear suspension, and the rear end from an ae86, so pretty close to how a corolla feels. Then i have the 4age 20v blacktop + T50 in my 85 GTS hatch.

The w58 has amazing gearing, 1st is pretty short and 2-4 are all really close which I like personally, especially for a 4AG. 5th is super overdrive (compared to T50 or any other W series transmission) which drops the revs down considerably on the freeway ~3900rpm at 75mph instead of 4500rpm (both with 4.30:1 rear gears)

Yes, there is a significant weight difference between the two, looking at them size by side in the garage the T50 looks like a scrawny little thing compared to the w58, can't say the exact weight difference off the top of my head but I imagine it's probably about 20-40 lbs more. I'll weight them when I get home and post the exact number later.

All in all its a very nice robust transmission that should be able to not only keep the 4a in the sweet spot but will also handle pretty much anything a 1.6 can throw at it.

So I weighed the w58 and t50 side by side last night.... this is with the bellhousing, TOB, clutch fork, and gear box, dry...as in no transmission oil.

W58 - 84 lbs T50 - 65 lbs

So yes there is a weight addition when switching to the w58, but personally I think 19lbs is negligible when you consider the fact that you'd have a hard time breaking it behind almost any 4A, not to mention the far superior gearing of the W58. Best of luck!